Universities: the end is nigh for the licence requirement in competitive examinations – self-certification is on the way

For over 15 years, aspiring university lecturers have first had to obtain a ‘licence’ valid throughout Italia – the so-called national scientific qualification provided for by Law 240 of 2010 – before they can apply for competitions organised locally by universities for full or associate professorships. In reality, the system has created more than one bottleneck, as confirmed by the latest figures held by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), according to which, in the six ASN rounds held since the first cycle (dating back to 2012) to the present day, over 71,000 lecturers have been granted qualification, but fewer than 40,000 have secured a professorship. Although the validity period of the qualification has since been extended to twelve years, there are in fact over 31,000 academics, both young and older, who have not received any offer (equivalent to 41.3 per cent of the total) for a first- or second-tier post.

It was these figures that Minister Anna Maria Bernini took as her starting point when devising a reform of university recruitment procedures that would replace the ASN with a self-declaration of compliance with minimum requirements set centrally, as proposed by ANVUR and following consultation with CUN, which would take into account teaching and research activities carried out in Italia and abroad, success in national, European and international competitive calls for proposals, and the achievement of minimum indicators regarding the quantity, continuity and temporal distribution of research outputs. This is provided for in his draft bill, which was approved at first reading in the Senate on 9 December and which – despite the protests from part of the academic community – is now nearing the final stage in the Chamber of Deputies as well. Following its approval by the Education Committee on Wednesday evening, the text will be examined by the full Chamber from today and is expected to be passed next week – without amendments – in the Chamber as well. It will thus become law.

The measure, comprising four articles, stipulates that self-certified requirements are to be assessed by committees comprising four external members drawn from a list of 40 prospective committee members for each scientific discipline group, which will be drawn up by the Ministry on the basis of applications accompanied by CVs available online, plus a fifth member identified by the university from among its own staff who are permanently engaged ‘abroad in research or teaching activities with an academic position at least equivalent’ to that sought. The panels will be reduced to three members – two external and one internal – for smaller scientific disciplines (where the initial lists contain fewer than 40 names). The minimum requirements will be updated for the first time after two years and then every five years.

Instead, all tenured lecturers will be assessed every three years in accordance with new evaluation guidelines entrusted to the ANVUR Agency, with consequent financial incentives in the form of grants for the university that recruited them.

Once the bill becomes law, the proportion of appointments for professors and researchers to be reserved for external candidates within the three-year planning cycle of individual universities will rise from 20 per cent to 25 per cent.